Barbara Kay Cruickshank

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 2:00 AM

September 24, 1951 June 11, 2013

Barbara Kay (White) Cruickshank, 61, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2013 in Dayton, Ore. after battling pancreatic cancer for the past year. She was at home surrounded by family and loved ones at the time of her death.

Barbara will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother, an adoring grandmother, an amazing daughter and sister, and a friend to everyone she met. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She was born September 24, 1951 to William L. and Lola C. White. Barbara was born and raised in Medford. Barbara was raised with four siblings; David, Elizabeth (Beth), Richard, and Douglas.

She spent her youth attending Medford schools graduating from Medford Senior High School in 1969. She was a Girl Scout through her teen years. She spent the summers of high school and college working for the city swimming pools as both a life guard and a swimming instructor. She attended Linfield College where she graduated, Cum Laude, in 1973 earning a degree in business administration.

Barbara met her husband, Gary Cruickshank, while attending Linfield. They were married in Medford, in 1973. Gary and Barb have a one-hundred-year farm in Dayton where he raises filberts and grass seed with their son, Jeff. They were married for 39 years.

Barbara's children were the light of her life. She had three children, Andrea Kay, Brian James, and Jeffrey William. She enjoyed the privilege of raising her children in the wholesome atmosphere on the farm and in the small rural community of Dayton. She attended each of her children's sporting events as well as any activities in which they participated. She was very proud of the children's accomplishments in athletics and academics. She felt a great joy that she was able to guide and watch them become the young adults they are today.

Barbara's life was blessed with the addition of three precious grandchildren. They were a very important part of her life. Every conversation included a comment, brag or boast about her grandchildren, Owen, Keaton and Ainsley. In Barbara's case, grandma is truly a name for love.

Barbara was an active member of PEO for 17 years and she served as president for two years. She had also been busy in the community volunteering at the McMinnville hospital where she served as president of the McMinnville Community Hospital Guild. Barbara was a long time member of the McMinnville First Baptist Church.

Barbara worked for the Oregon Department of Education as a financial analyst, at the time of her death, where she was considered a very dedicated and valued employee. She has also worked at Wilco, Dayton School District, and Mill City School District.

Barbara found traveling to be one of her favorite things. She traveled many of the states in the U.S. She was also able to travel to England, Ireland and Germany with her friends, Bill and Jane Apel. She also took many trips with her children and grandchildren. The Oregon coast was one of her favorite places to visit.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Gary Cruickshank, of Dayton; her children, Andrea (Jeremy) Nichols, of Tigard, Ore., Brian Cruickshank, and Jeffrey (Emily) Cruickshank, of McMinnville. She has three grandchildren, Owen, Keaton and Ainsley Nichols; her mother, Lola White Burke; sister, Beth (Bob) Capsey; brothers, Richard (Shirley) White, all of Medford, and her brother, Douglas (Trina) White, of Roseburg, Ore.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her father, William White; step-father, Martin Burke; and her brother, David White.

A private family interment will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park Mausoleum. A memorial service for Barbara will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 17, 2013 at First Baptist Church, 125 SE Cowls St., McMinnville, Ore. A reception will immediately follow the memorial service.

The family would like to thank Providence Hospice; Barb's caregiver, Carol Macy; and also Barb's friends and co-workers at ODE, Mari Sue Johnson, Michael Wiltfong, and Lorene Nakamura, the members of PEO Chapter FH, and her family members and many friends who offered kindness and support and made sure the family's needs were taken care of during Barb's illness. Also thank you to everyone that called her or visited; sent flowers, food or a card.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society. To leave online condolences, please visit www.macyandson.com